***Official India in New Zealand***

[Uppercut]

in the above case, my concern would be what If one of the quicks breaks down for some reason during the game .... Ind has no one to support the other quick .... Earlier Ganguly was there to mantle

Hmm, this is true. But it didn't stop them in India for the tests against England, so if conditions are clearly going to favour spin over seam, why would it stop them in New Zealand?

 

[Woodster]

The Q for me would be
- Bhajji or Mishra .... Bhajji had a good time in the first test, in the 2nd he was ok. Is it the time to give an opportunity to Mishra and see if he can bring something exciting to the table
- Yuvi or Mishra .... The classic, extra bowler or batsman

With the series set as it is and India having not managed a Test series victory in NZ for around 40 years or so, I can't imagine that they'd change Yuvraj for Mishra. It may be construde a really positive move, opting for the extra bowler, and backing your top 6 to cash in, but really cannot see it happening.

Also cannot imagine Bhaji would be made to sit this one out. His experience in what is a very big Test match, will not be compromised, I don't think. He helped get them into this position with his 6-63 at Hamilton, think the Indian management will be pleased to give him the opportunity to finish NZ off.

 

[silentstriker]

Personally would have him in for Munaf, judging by the pitch report.

Your obsession with Mishra is unhealthy.

Munaf must play IMO.

Although, it'd be interesting to see Rahul Dravid keep wickets and get Murali Vijay in there as a batsman. I know it's not happening, but how much worse than Karthik could he be?

 

[silentstriker]

Oh, and Dhoni is pleasently surprised by the wicket apparently. So ridiculous! I want to see some movement damn it, and not that of the ball going to the boundary.

 

[silentstriker]

Indeed. I always think it's funny when people say, "he'll never be test-class because his technical weaknesses mean he's bound to be found out against top-class bowling in helpful conditions". How often do you face top-class bowling in helpful conditions? Once every 30 matches?

That's very true, and I think that's why Sehwag has been so successful, and why Hayden was too.

However, though people use that line with Yuvraj Singh, I don't think he can bat against mediocre Test attacks either.

 

[ret]

With the series set as it is and India having not managed a Test series victory in NZ for around 40 years or so, I can't imagine that they'd change Yuvraj for Mishra. It may be construde a really positive move, opting for the extra bowler, and backing your top 6 to cash in, but really cannot see it happening.

Also cannot imagine Bhaji would be made to sit this one out. His experience in what is a very big Test match, will not be compromised, I don't think. He helped get them into this position with his 6-63 at Hamilton, think the Indian management will be pleased to give him the opportunity to finish NZ off.

thats how it could go .... but I am more interested in knowing how you guys will go abt it as what the management will do is more like an open book

 

[ret]

as for me, I think India needs 3 quicks/pacers, esp with likes of Ganguly no longer there to support that dept .... Bhajji, may shine once in a while but as a lone spin specialist, he on many occasions appears inadequate in tests. i couldn't imagine him getting me out when I saw him bowl in the last test .... It might not be a bad idea to change spinners in a series. Just like NZ had difficulties with Bhajji in the first test, playing Mishra for the first time could pose challenges for them too

I would recommend Mishra, either in for Bhajji [if the conditions are such that 4 bowlers can run through the side] or Yuvi [if conditions are such that 6 batsmen can do the job and also depending up on Dhoni's availability as he strengthens the batting]

I read abt Dravid being made to keep and bringing in Vijay which is a good suggestion but I don't know if Dravid has it [fitness level] in him to be able to keep and bat in tests. Few years ago that would have been a good option!

 

[honestbharani]

as for me, I think India needs 3 quicks/pacers, esp with likes of Ganguly no longer there to support that dept .... Bhajji, may shine once in a while but as a lone spin specialist, he on many occasions appears inadequate in tests. i couldn't imagine him getting me out when I saw him bowl in the last test .... It might not be a bad idea to change spinners in a series. Just like NZ had difficulties with Bhajji in the first test, playing Mishra for the first time could pose challenges for them too

I would recommend Mishra, either in for Bhajji [if the conditions are such that 4 bowlers can run through the side] or Yuvi [if conditions are such that 6 batsmen can do the job and also depending up on Dhoni's availability as he strengthens the batting]

I read abt Dravid being made to keep and bringing in Vijay which is a good suggestion but I don't know if Dravid has it [fitness level] in him to be able to keep and bat in tests. Few years ago that would have been a good option!

It would also mean him batting 5 or something and it pushes the whole batting line up out of track.. I think Dhoni will play, this is just a bit of drama enactment so that it seems a surprise when he is out there at the toss.. For some reason, the Indians, since the time of Ganguly, seem to enjoy doing this act...


But if Dhoni is really unfit, I won't mind playing the same team... You picked Karthik because you trust him.. Let him prove himself completely off his depths or at least let him come back.. It makes no sense to sacrifice one of your best batsman on tour to keep just because you think he won't be far worse than DK... I just wish people over here understood more on just how difficult keeping is compared to fielding... And for Dravid to keep for 100+ overs and then come back out and bat in the top 5... What a waste!!!

 

[Uppercut]

Your obsession with Mishra is unhealthy.

Munaf must play IMO.

Although, it'd be interesting to see Rahul Dravid keep wickets and get Murali Vijay in there as a batsman. I know it's not happening, but how much worse than Karthik could he be?

It's not really the Mishra obsession. I could just as easily say your obsession with fast bowlers is unhealthy

I don't really rate Munaf very highly either, especially when the pitch isn't offering much. If it was someone like, uhm, Kyle Mills, then i'd go with the three seamers. But if the pitch is offering nothing to anyone, IMO Mishra is much more capable than Munaf of taking wickets in such circumstances.

 

[silentstriker]

I could just as easily say your obsession with fast bowlers is unhealthy

Well, it is an obsession, and it is quite possibly unhealthy, so I wouldn't really dispute that.

I don't really rate Munaf very highly either, especially when the pitch isn't offering much. If it was someone like, uhm, Kyle Mills, then i'd go with the three seamers. But if the pitch is offering nothing to anyone, IMO Mishra is much more capable than Munaf of taking wickets in such circumstances.

Based on past experience, it doesn't look like a pitch that spins all that much. I liked what I saw from Munaf in the first Test, and don't see any reason for him to be dropped. If the pitch was going to break up, then I could see it, but based on what everyone is saying it's going to be another day in [batting] paradise.

 

[Uppercut]

Well, it is an obsession, and it is quite possibly unhealthy, so I wouldn't really dispute that.



Based on past experience, it doesn't look like a pitch that spins all that much. I liked what I saw from Munaf in the first Test, and don't see any reason for him to be dropped. If the pitch was going to break up, then I could see it, but based on what everyone is saying it's going to be another day in [batting] paradise.

Well his dire performance in the second test is one reason. But really i don't think he was ever the incumbent. He's an option when conditions favour fast bowlers, Mishy's an option when they favour spinners. It's not about "dropping" players, just going horses-for-courses.

The question is, if conditions favour neither, who would you pick? And that's where i'd always go for Mishra.

 

[ret]

Considering that all is well, below would be my line up

- Sehwag
- Gambhir
- Dravid
- Tendulkar
- Laxman
- Dhoni
- Bhajji [Yuvi, if the pitch has a tinge of green to it]
- Zak
- Mishra
- Ishant
- Munaf

I am greedy .... I don't want India to just play for a draw for a series win, I want them to win not only the series but also get its 100th test win at Wellington, which has not been a good ground for India .... It's time to change the record in NZ

 

[Shri]

[Yuvi, if the pitch has a tinge of green to it]

Good one.

 

[Arjun]

Considering that all is well, below would be my line up

- Sehwag
- Gambhir
- Dravid
- Tendulkar
- Laxman
- Dhoni
- Bhajji [Yuvi, if the pitch has a tinge of green to it]
- Zak
- Mishra
- Ishant
- Munaf

I am greedy .... I don't want India to just play for a draw for a series win, I want them to win not only the series but also get its 100th test win at Wellington, which has not been a good ground for India .... It's time to change the record in NZ

That's a good lineup we have there, but the conditions in Welligton will be very seamer-friendly, especially the wind. Here, having Yuvraj in for Munaf won't be a bad idea. Though the pitch will be a belter, the cold and the wind will tilt the balance reasonably in favour of the bowlers.

 

[silentstriker]

- Dhoni
- Bhajji [Yuvi, if the pitch has a tinge of green to it]
-

Actually, I'd back Bhajji to score more when the pitch is green.

Well his dire performance in the second test is one reason. But really i don't think he was ever the incumbent. He's an option when conditions favour fast bowlers, Mishy's an option when they favour spinners. It's not about "dropping" players, just going horses-for-courses.

The question is, if conditions favour neither, who would you pick? And that's where i'd always go for Mishra.

A more tempting switch might be to replace Harbhajan with Mishra.

 

[cowboysfan]

I can guarantee that Harbhajan is not going to be dropped.

 

[Krishna_j]

That's a good lineup we have there, but the conditions in Welligton will be very seamer-friendly, especially the wind. .

Are'nt the reports speaking of a pitch with a robust tinge of brown all -over - if that's correct the ball will be seaming a lot on the outfield for sure

 

[oitoitoi]

Bhaji definitely won't be dropped, I wouldn't mind seeing Mishra come in for Yuvraj though, 2 quality spinners on a dry surface versus Taylor and Ryder could be an interesting battle. India very rarely go for the 5 bowler option though, especially when 1-0 up.

 

[Uppercut]

A more tempting switch might be to replace Harbhajan with Mishra.

Mmm, Harbs is miles better than Munaf though on anything other than a green seamer (which this emphatically is not, by the sound of things).

 

[neutralguy]

I do not expect any change in indian team from last match, except dhoni coming in. I do not see yuvraj nor harbhajan getting dropped. Chances of mishra coming in are really low.